orientation
noun
ori·en·ta·tion
ˌȯr-ē-ən-ˈtā-shən 
-ˌen-
plural orientations
1
a
: the act or process of orienting or of being oriented
These materials are for the orientation of new employees.
b
: the state of being oriented
the orientation of the main altar of the church
2
a
: a usually general or lasting direction of thought, inclination, or interest
the fundamentally human orientation of Greek art—
Bruce Cole
Bruce ColeThis company has a decidedly conservative orientation.
b
: a person's sexual identity or self-identification as bisexual, straight, gay, lesbian, pansexual, etc. : the state of being bisexual, straight, gay, lesbian, pansexual, etc. : sexual orientation
3
: change of position by organs, organelles, or organisms in response to external stimulus
The plant's orientation is toward light.
orientationally
adverb
Examples of orientation in a Sentence
These materials are used for the orientation of new employees.
They identified as bisexual in orientation.
The organization has a decidedly conservative orientation.
Her later works were more introspective in orientation.
New students need to go through a short orientation before they begin classes.
Recent Examples on the Web
The program is 18 months long and entails an orientation and basic training phase, months of firefighter and more advanced training and then a 12-month crew assignment.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY, 14 Jan. 2025
The outfit has been populated with some of the worst crackpots and conspiracy theorists, and its anti-Western orientation is matched only by its reliable antisemitism.
—The Editors, National Review, 9 Jan. 2025
And so, the same design is kept intact: dual 14-inch 3K OLED screens, a detachable keyboard, and a 180-degree hinge plus a kickstand to convert and set up the Duo in different orientations.
—Matthew Buzzi, PCMAG, 8 Jan. 2025
Friction point: But scientists are somewhat at odds over the extent to which shifts in the orientation of the polar vortex are driving this particular cold snap.
—Andrew Freedman, Axios, 2 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for orientation 
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Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY, 14 Jan. 2025
The outfit has been populated with some of the worst crackpots and conspiracy theorists, and its anti-Western orientation is matched only by its reliable antisemitism.
—The Editors, National Review, 9 Jan. 2025
And so, the same design is kept intact: dual 14-inch 3K OLED screens, a detachable keyboard, and a 180-degree hinge plus a kickstand to convert and set up the Duo in different orientations.
—Matthew Buzzi, PCMAG, 8 Jan. 2025
Friction point: But scientists are somewhat at odds over the extent to which shifts in the orientation of the polar vortex are driving this particular cold snap.
—Andrew Freedman, Axios, 2 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for orientation
Articles Related to orientation
Dictionary Entries Near orientation
Cite this Entry
“Orientation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/orientation. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
orientation
noun
ori·en·ta·tion
ˌōr-ē-ən-ˈtā-shən
ˌȯr-ē-ˌen-
1
a
: the act or process of orienting or of being oriented
b
: the state of being oriented
2
a
: a usually general or lasting direction of thought, inclination, or interest
b
: a person's sexual identity or self-identification
bisexual in orientation
3
: change of position by a cell or organism or by one of their parts in response to outside stimulus
Medical Definition
orientation
noun
ori·en·ta·tion
ˌōr-ē-ən-ˈtā-shən, ˌȯr-, -ˌen-
2
: a usually general or lasting direction of thought, inclination, or interest see sexual orientation
3
: change of position by organs, organelles, or organisms in response to external stimulus
4
: awareness of the existing situation with reference to time, place, and identity of persons
psychological orientation
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